Suction nozzle for catching thread ends



Ot.21, 1958 wmppm 2,857,113

SUCTION NOZZLE FOR CATCHING THREAb ENDS Filed Nov. 2. 1954 I 2Sheets-Sna 1 INVENTOR. WILHELM KzJ'PPF 0:.21',1'95s w W'Q UPPER2,857,113-

' SUCTION NOZZLE FOR CATCHING THREAD ENDS Filed Nov. 2,1954- ,2 hets.-Sneet z INVENTOR. WI HEl-M KJFPER 2,857,113 SUCTION NozzL-E 1:1 61:gATeHING runnin- Wilhelm Kiipper, Erkelenz, Germany; assignor to Dr.Ing. Walter Reiners, Gladbach, Rhineland, Germany Application November2", 1954, Serial No; 466,395 Claims priority, application GermanyNovember 3; 1953, s'c'nims; er 20:18

The present invention relates to suction nozzles" for catching threadends, and more particularly to a' suction nozzle provided with aretainingmean's for retaining" a caught thread end.

In winding machines, broken thread ends are caught by suction nozzleswhich are arranged adjacent the surface of a body of thread so that whenthe body of'thread is rotated in a direction opposite to the windingdirection thereof, a thread end on the body of thread is sucked into thesuction nozzle. Frequently a thread end, which has been sucked into thesuction nozzle, is again pulled out of the suctionn'ozzle since aportion of the thread end adheres to" the body of thread so that duringfurther rotation of the body of thread the pull exerted by the rotatingbody of thread on the thread end adhering thereto is greater than thepull enerted by the suction of the suction nozzle. The thread end mayadhere to the body er thread bec'aus'ei'tis somehow intertwined with theother thread, or felted therewith.

It is the object of the pre's'ent invention to" overcome thisdisadvantage of the known suction nozzle arrangement for catching threadends, and to provide a suction nozzle which is capable of retaining asucked in thread end, even if the same as felted with the body'ofthread.

It is another object of the present invention to provide retaining meanson the suction nozzle'which do not obstruct the sucking-in et the threadend, but-engage the sucked-in thread end and retain the thread end whenthe same tends to move out of the suetion' nozzle.

It is a further object of the presenfinvention to provide in a suctionnozzle of the above-described type a retaining means which'exertsfriction on the' 'cau'ght thread end. 7

It is a' still further object of the present invention to provideretaining means of the above -d'e's'cr'ibed'type only on the nozzle lipportion which is located rearwardly'in the direction of relativemovement between the surface of the body of thread and the suctionnozzle so that the thread may easily pass over the forward lip portionof the nozzle into the suction nozzle, but" is retained by the retainingmeans on the rearwardly located nozzle lip portion.

With these objects in view, the" presentinvention mainly consists in anapparatus for catching; thread ends of a body of threadcomprisingdncombination, suction nozzle means; means for moving thesurface of a body of wound thread and the suction nozzle means relativeto each other so that the suction nozzle nieaiis passes along and exertssuction on the surface of the body of thread whereby thread ends aresucked from the body of thread into the suction nozzle means;- andretaining means on the suction nozzle means for retaining a thread endsucked into the'suction nozzlemean's so as to prevent pulling out of asucked-in thread end during continued relative movement between the bodyof thread and the suction nozzle means.

According to a preferred embodiment of th'e present rammed Oct. 21, 1958invention the bodyof thread is rotated so that the surface of the bodyof thread passes an annular edge of a suction opening spaced a shortdistance from the same; The leading edgetportion of the annular edgelocated forwardly in direction of movement of the surface of the body ofthread is smooth, whereas the trailing lip portion located rearwardlywith respect to the direction of movementofthe surface of the threadbody is provided with-retaining means which increase the friction on thecaught thread end.

According to one embodiment of the present invention the trailing edgeportion is roughened. According to another embodiment of the presentinvention a needle means is provided on the trailing edge portion.Preferably, the needles of the needle means extend at an acute anglewith respect to the direction inwhich the sucked-in air moves in thesuction nozzle and point inwardly into the suction nozzle so that asucked-in thread is not obstructed during inward movement due moveoutwardly material attached to the edge of the suction nozzle forincreasing the friction exerted on the'sucked-in thread end. I

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, to-

gether with additional objects and advantages thereof,

will be best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of an embodimentof the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of the embodimentillustrated in Fig. 2 in a-different operational position;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the suction nozzle shown in the embodiment ofFigs. 1 and 2;.

Fig.4 is an end view of a suction nozzle according to a modifiedembodiment of the present invention taken in the direction of the arrow4 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a suction nozzle according to a modifiedembodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a suction nozzle according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 7 is an end view of asuction nozzle illustrated in Fig. 6 taken inthe directions of the arrow 7; and

Fig. '8. is a sectional view of a suction nozzle according to a furtherembodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, abody of thread 1 is mounted on a rotatable support 1a and is rotated bya drive roller 2 which engages the surface 15 of the wound body ofthread. Consequently, the drive roller 2 constitutes a mean'sfor movingthev surface 1b and the suction nozzle '3 relative to eachother. Thebody of thread "1 is wound ina' direction opposite the directionof'the-arrow 4, but duringoperation' of drive roller 2 rotates in thedirection ofthe arrow 4a so that the body of thread is rotated in'thedirection ofvthe' arrow 4 opposite to th direction in which the threadis wound thereon.

The "suctionnoz'zle 3 is arranged adjacent the drive roller 2 and has anannular edge 8" including a leading edge portion 821' located forwardlyin the "direction of movement of the surface lb of the body at thread;

to the direction of movement of the surface 1b of 'the' body of thread.

A thread end is sucked into thesuction nozzle when theportion ofthesurface 112 in which the thread end is located passes the annular edge 8of the suction nozzle.

However, when the thread end 5 is" intertwined at the point A withthread of the body of thread. 1, further rotation of the body of thread1 in the direction of the arrow 4 may effect pulling out of thejthreadend 5 since the suction exerted by the suction nozzle 3 may beinsufficient to pull the thread end S from the intertwined point A. M I

As the body of thread 1 continues its rotation and moves from theposition shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the point Amoves into the position A. The thread end 5 engages the retaining means7 provided on the trailing edge portion 8a so that the friction exertedby the retaining means 7 is added to the suction force of the suctionnozzle 3. While the suction alone may be insufficient to loosen thethread at the point A, the retaining rneans 7 according to the presentinvention retains the thread so. that further movement of the body ofthread will cause at the point A separation of the thread from the bodyof thread, whereupon the thread end 5 is sucked further into the suctionnozzle.

The retaining means 7 illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is a strip of emerypaper or sandpaper. The thread end 5 engaging the surface of theretaining means 7 is held by the friction of the rough surface so thatit cannot be pulled out of the suction nozzle 3. After the thread hasbeen separated at the point A from the body of thread, the suction inthe suction nozzle 3 is sufiicient to pull the thread end 5 off therough surface of the retaining means 7.

Fig. 3 illustrates the annular edge 8 of the suction nozzle 3 on anenlarged scale. The sheet of sand or emery paper 7 is attached to thetrailing edge portion 8a of the suction opening while the leading edgeportion 8b is smooth so that the sucked-in thread easily passes over theleading edge portion 8b into the suction nozzle 3.

' Another embodiment of the retaining means is illustrated in Figs. 4and 5. It will be understood that the general arrangement in which theretaining means according to these figures is used corresponds to Figs.1 and 2. However, the retaining means illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is aneedle comb 7a whoseneedles extends at an acute angle to the directionof the flow of air in the I suction nozzle 3. Moreover, the needles ofthe needle comb 7a point inwardly into the nozzle as best seen in Fig.5. Fig. 5' illustrates a position corresponding to the positionillustrated in Fig. 2. The point A has moved beyond the trailing edge 8aof the suction nozzle, and consequently, the thread end 5 is pulled intothe needle comb so that the needles of the same impale and retain thethread end 5. Consequently, the thread end 5 is separated from the bodyof thread at the point A during further rotation of the body ofthread 1. After such separation has taken place, the suction of thesuction nozzle is sufiicient to separate the thread end 5 from theneedle comb since the needles extend inwardly in the direction of theflow of air. I

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the trailing edge 8a ofthe suction nozzle 3 is provided with a series of wedge-shaped grooves8a'.. When the thread end 5 is drawn into one of the wedge-shapedgrooves 801 it is slightly clamped at the bottom of the grooves so thatthe thread end is retained and separated at the point A from the body ofthread.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 8, the resilient clamping means is'secured to the edge portion 8a and engages the opposite surface of thenozzle means. The end of the clamping means is provided with a member 9arough surface.

4 which is either a rubber body or a member having a It is alsocontemplated to provide very short teeth or needles on the member 9a,which however are considerably shorter than the needles provided in theembodiment illustrated in Fig. 5.

It will be understood tha t each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofsuction nozzles differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in asuction nozzle for catching'thread ends and provided at the trailingedge thereof with a retaining means for retaining sucked-in thread ends,it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since variousmodifications and structural changes may be made without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a winding machine, an apparatus for catching thread ends of a bodyof thread comprising, in combination, suction means formed with asuction opening having an edge including a first edge portion, and anoppositely arranged second edge portion means for moving a body of woundthread and said suction means relative to each other so that saidsuction opening passes along the surface of said body of wound threadwith said first edge portion thereof leading and said second edgeportion thereof trailing with respect to said body of wound threadwhereby thread ends are sucked from the body of thread into said suctionmeans along said first leading edge portion and tend to leave saidsuction opening along said second trailing edge portion thereof; andretaining means on said second trailing edge portion for retaining athread end sucked into said suction opening so as to prevent pulling outof a sucked-in thread end during continued relative movement betweensaid body of thread and said suction means.

2. In a winding machine, .an apparatus for catching thread ends of abody of thread comprising, in combination, suction nozzle means formedwith a suction opening bounded by an annular edge including a first edgeportion and an oppositely arranged second edge portion; means forrotating a body of wound thread arranged with respect to said suctionnozzle means in such manner that the surface of a rotated body of threadpasses first over said first edge portion and then over said second edgeportion whereby thread ends are sucked from the body of thread into saidsuction opening along said first edge portion and tend to leave saidsuction opening along said second edge portion thereof; and retainingmeans on said second edge portion for retaining a thread end sucked intosaid suction opening so as to prevent pulling out of the sucked-inthread end during continued movement of said surface of said body ofthread.

3. In a winding machine, an apparatus for catching thread ends of a bodyof thread comprising, in combination, suction nozzle means formed with asuction opening bounded by an annular edge including a first edgeportion and an oppositely arranged second edge portion; means forrotating a body of wound thread arranged with respect to said suctionnozzle means in such manner that the surface of a rotated body of threadpasses first over said first edge portion and then over said second edgeportion whereby thread ends are sucked from the body ofthread into saidsuction opening along-said first edge portion and tend to leave saidsuction opening along said second edge portion thereof; and retainingmeans on said second edge portion for exerting friction on the threadend and for retaining a thread end sucked into said suction opening soas to prevent pulling out of the suckedin thread end during continuedmovement of said surface of said body of thread.

4. In a winding machine, an apparatus for catching thread ends of a bodyof thread comprising, in combination, suction nozzle means formed with asuction opening bounded by an annular edge including a first edgeportion and an oppositely arranged second edge portion;

, means for rotating a body of wound thread arranged with respect tosaid suction nozzle means in such manner that the surface of a rotatedbody of thread passes first over said first edge portion and then oversaid second edge portion whereby thread ends are suckedfrom the body ofthread into said suction opening along said first edge portion and tendto leave said suction opening along said second edge portion thereof;and retaining means having a rough surface and being secured to saidsecond edge portion and partly located within said suction nozzle meansfor retaining a thread end sucked into said suction opening so as toprevent pulling out of the sucked-in thread end during continuedmovement of said surface of said body of thread.

5. In a winding machine, an apparatus for catching thread ends of a bodyof thread comprising, in combination, suction nozzle means formed with asuction opening bounded by an annular edge including a first edgeportion and an oppositely arranged second edge portion; means forrotating a body of found thread arranged with respect to said suctionnozzle means in such manner that the surface of a rotated body of threadpasses first over said first edge portion and then over said second edgeportion whereby thread ends are sucked from the body of thread into saidsuction opening along said first edge portion and tend to leave saidsuction opening along said second edge portion thereof; and a needlecomb means including needles projecting inwardly into said suctionnozzle means for retaining a thread end sucked into said suction openingso as to prevent pulling out of the sucked-in thread end duringcontinued movement of said surface of said body of thread.

6. In a winding machine, an apparatus for catching thread ends of a bodyof thread comprising, in combination, suction nozzle means formed with asuction opening bounded by an annular edge including a first edgeportion and an oppositely arranged second edge portion, said second edgeportion being formed with a plurality of wedgeshaped grooves; means forrotating a body of wound thread arranged with respect to said suctionnozzle means in such manner that the surface of a rotated body of threadpasses first over said first edge portion and then over said second edgeportion whereby thread ends are sucked from the body of thread into saidsuction opening along said first edge portion and tend to leave saidsuction opening along said second edge portion thereof so that saidgrooves in the same are adapted to engage and to retain a thread endsucked into said suction opening so as to prevent pulling out of thesucked-in thread end during continued movement of said surface of saidbody of thread.

7. In a winding machine, an apparatus for catching thread ends of a bodyof thread comprising, in combination, suction nozzle means formed with asuction opening bounded by an annular edge including a first edgeportion and an oppositely arranged second edge portion; means forrotating a body of wound thread arranged with respect to said suctionnozzle means in such manner that the surface of a rotated body of threadpasses first over said first edge portion and then over said second edgeportion whereby thread ends are sucked from the body of thread into saidsuction opening along said first edge portion and tend to leave saidsuction opening along said second edge portion thereof; and retainingmeans including resilient clamping means secured to said second edgeportion and resiliently engagingthe inner surface of said suction nozzlemeans so as to be adapted to engage and clamp a thread end sucked intosaid suction opening so as to prevent pulling out of the sucked-inthread end during continued movement of said surface of said body ofthread.

8. In a Winding machine, an apparatus for catching thread ends of a bodyof thread comprising, in combination, suction means formed with asuction opening having an edge including a first edge portion, and anoppositely arranged second edge portion; means for moving a body ofwound thread and said suction means relative to each other so that saidsuction opening passes along the surface of said body of wound threadwith said edge portion thereof leading and said second edge portionthereof trailing with respect to said body of wound thread wherebythread ends are sucked from the body of thread into said suction meansalong said first leading edge portion and tend to leave said suctionopening along said second trailing edge portion thereof; and retainingmeans having a rough surface and located on said second trailing edgeportion for retaining a thread end sucked into said suction opening soas to prevent pulling out of a sucked-in thread end during continuedrelative movement between said body of thread and said suction means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,558,264 Hathaway Oct. 20, 1925 1,887,342 Vickerman Nov. 8, 19322,208,930 Kahlisch July 23, 1940 2,267,481 Turner Dec. 23, 19412,338,914 Esser et al. Ian. 11, 1944 2,400,963 Turner May 28, 19462,431,556 Hooper et al. Nov. 26, 1947 2,482,691 Peterson Sept. 20, 19492,758,799 Furst Aug. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,451 Great Britain Apr.17, 1884 253,745 Great Britain June 24, 1926

